Family Fun – Things To Do on Summer Vacation
Ah, summer vacation! We still have a few weeks left before the kids go back to school and the lazy mornings and leisurely breakfasts are over. At the Original Pancake House Denver, we love to start our dog days of summer off with a nice big stack of pancakes followed by a little family fun. Here is a list of some of our favorite South Denver attractions to try with the whole family!
Speed Raceway
– Are the kiddos getting a bit restless as home? Perhaps they have a need for speed! The Speed Raceway is an indoor electric go-kart track and provides hours of fun and racing for the whole family. Siblings can race each other (at moderate speeds) around the indoor track and cheer on their friends and fellow racers.
Pirates Cove Family Fun Aquatic Center
– AHOY! For the hottest of summer days, Pirates Cove is just the place to cool you off! With pools, water slides, a lazy river, and play area, Pirates Cove provides hours of refreshing fun for the whole family. We recommend starting with a big breakfast first so everyone has enough energy to swim all day!
Littleton Museum
– Step back in time and enjoy the adventures of life in Littleton circa the 1860’s and 1890’s. Located on 39 acres, the Littleton Museum has served as the primary repository for the history, art, and culture of Littleton. Often cited as one of the top ten local history museums in the United States, the museum consists of two living history farms, a small lake, a collections center, and a main exhibition and administration building.
Centennial Center Park
- The 11-acre, award winning, Centennial Center Park provides children of all ages hours of fun on one of three climbing walls, two expansive, age-appropriate play areas and the Nautilus water play area in the center of the Park. Ideally situated on a slight bluff adjacent to Centennial Civic Center, Centennial Center Park also features “butte” and “meadow” nature areas, three decorative water fountains and a two-story covered shelter to overlook the plaza or enjoy a spectacular Centennial sunset.
Belleview Park
–Located just adjacent to Pirates Cove, Belleview Park offers numerous family friendly activities. Visitors can enjoy a ride on the Miniature Train, play by the creek or on the playground equipment, ride their bikes along the bike paths, and cool off with some concessions sold at the farm. The miniature train has run in Belleview Park for over 30 years, averaging 60,000 riders annually. The train runs every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kids can enjoy getting to know some farm animals, which include pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep just to name a few.
Westlands Park
– Westlands Park is a hidden jewel in the middle of the Greenwood Village corporate park area. The Westlands playground includes three play areas sized for toddlers to teens. There are two large climbing structures which satisfy both the technical climber as well as the inexperienced child. In addition to the main play area, there are three multi-use playing fields, an in-line hockey rink, a natural water sculpture, a pond and a hike / bike trail.
Cherry Creek State Park
– You can’t beat Colorado State Parks! Cherry Creek State Park has it all with biking and hiking trails, a shooting range, a miniature airport for model planes, and did we mention that nice big reservoir to cool your toes? Bring a picnic and spend the day playing in the outdoors!
Brunswick Zone XL Bowling
– Cool shoes, slick lanes, the sound of pins collapsing, no wonder they say “fun is bowling!” At Brunswick Zone the whole family can escape the heat and get in on the action. Kids of all ages are welcome to take their shot at breaking a score of 200! And when the bowling is done, Brunswick Zone XL also offers laser tag, a large game room and billiards!
You’ll need lots of energy for whatever activities you choose, so be sure to fuel up Original Pancake House Denver with a big breakfast before embarking on your adventures!
Golfing for Firefighters
On June 23 and 24, The Original Pancake House Denver helped sponsor the annual South Metro Professional Firefighters Foundation Gala and Memorial Golf Tournament. One of the largest charity events in the state of Colorado, the tournament raises funds to support professional firefighters and their families who face financial hardships as a result of off-duty emergencies such as accident, injury or death. The foundation is a non-profit organization and provides funds to firefighters and police officers from Denver Fire, Englewood Police, Aurora Fire, West Metro Fire, Arvada Fire, Cunningham Fire, Littleton Fire and many other neighborhoods.
This year’s event included a Sunday night gala followed by a charity golf tournament on Monday. The Original Pancake House Denver sponsored a booth along the course where we gave out fun OPH swag and refreshments to the golfers. With over 200 participants, we had the opportunity to meet several firefighters and their families, as well as members of our community who also support the South Metro Professional Firefighters Foundation.
On behalf of all The Original Pancake House Denver staff, we are proud to participate in this wonderful event and support those who protect and serve local community!
Independence Day: Celebrating family-owned businesses and restaurants in America
In honor of Independence Day, we’d like to celebrate family-owned businesses and restaurants across our great country. Did you know the first Original Pancake House was founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke? Using her family’s recipes and traditions, Sara Hueneke Ernst, great niece of Erma Hueneke, opened the first Original Pancake House in Denver in 1996. The Original Pancake House Denver has been serving breakfast to hungry patrons for many years, but here are a few American family-run businesses that have been around even longer!
Zambelli Fireworks
Founded by Antonio Zambelli back in 1893, Zambelli Fireworks is still run by the Zambelli family out of Pittsburgh, PA. Today the company supplies more pyrotechnic displays for celebratory events than any other firework company in the country. Of the 2,000 plus annual displays the Zambelli’s create, most occur on the 4th of July. Now that is a booming family business!
Antoine’s Restaurant
We thought we’d been serving pancakes for a long time, but Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans, LA has us beat! The oldest family-owned restaurant in America, Antoine’s was established in 1840 by Antoine Alicatore. Specializing in French-Creole cuisine, Antoine’s is famous for inventing Oysters Rockefeller. Today the restaurant boasts 14 dining rooms and seating for 700 patrons!
Martin Guitars
There is nothing more American than good old fashioned Rock –n-Roll! Did you know that Martin Guitars have been an American family-run business since the early 1800s? Martin Guitars was founded by CF Martin Jr. who immigrated to New York City from Germany in 1833. Today Martin Guitars has an 84,000 square foot factory and 500 employees, but it is still run by CF Martin’s great grandson. In 2004, Martin Guitar’s produced its 1,000,000th guitar following the same standards for workmanship and quality that CF Martin outlined in 171 years prior.
On behalf of the Hueneke and Ernst families, we salute each American family-owned business on this 4th of July holiday!
